Synopses & Reviews
Fly fishing on a budget requires a delicate balance between necessity and self-indulgence. You need at least a bare-bones assortment of gear and knowledge, but this assortment should be tempered by the urge to explore every possible fishing opportunity. How do you make the most of your resources? And how do you balance your gear needs in such a way that you maximize the time spent on the water?
With humor, shrewdness, and rare insights into the industry, Patrick Straub provides the answers you need and the guidance you want. The Frugal Fly Fisherman will be the first and last book a budget-minded angler will ever want on his or her beloved sport. Topics include:
• Gear You Want and Gear You Must Have
• The Rod: A Paintbrush for Your Art or a Tool for Your Shed?
• The Reel: Landing a Value Instead of Being Taken to the Cleaners
• Fly Line: The Straight and Narrow on a Necessity
• Flies: A Little Knowledge Goes a Long Way
• Taking It to the Next Level: Travel, Boats, and Guides
• Real-Life Frugal Fly Fishers: Four “Real World” Anglers
Review
Unless youre very wealthy, to fish with a fly is to strike a delicate balance between necessity and self-indulgence. One needs to have at least a bare-bones assortment of gear and knowledge, but the urge toward exploring every possible fishing opportunity has to be tempered by reality. How do you make the most of the resources that are available to you? How do you balance the gear needs of the sport with the restrained, bare-bones sensibility that is so vital to enjoying yourself on the water?
Synopsis
Unless youre wealthy, to fish with a fly is to strike a delicate balance between necessity and self-indulgence. You need to have at least a bare-bones assortment of gear and knowledge, but the urge toward exploring every possible fishing opportunity has to be tempered by reality. How to make the most of the resources that are available to you? How do you balance the gear needs of the sport with the restrained, bare-bones sensibility that is so vital to enjoying yourself on the water?
With humor, insight, and a rare access to the industry, fly-fishing outfitter and author Patrick Straub takes readers on a tour of everything the budget-minded fly fisherman needs to knowfrom the right gear for the right price to local free seminars on fly casting and tying, from tips on the best waters for the best price to profiles of the hardcore enthusiasts who manage to fly fish on a budget. The Frugal Fly Fisherman will be the first and last book a budget-minded fisherman will ever need to buy.
Synopsis
With humor, insight, and a rare access to the industry, fly-fishing outfitter and author Patrick Straub takes readers on a tour of everything the budget-minded fly-fisherman needs to know. From the right gear for the right price to local free seminars on fly-casting and tying, from tips on the best waters for the best price to profiles of the hardcore enthusiasts who manage to fly-fish on a budget, the Frugal Fly Fisher will be the first and last book a budget-minded fisherman will ever need to buy.
About the Author
Patrick Straub is the author of four books, including The Orvis Pocket Guide to Streamer Fishing (Lyons Press) and Montana on the Fly: An Anglers Guide. He has been a fly-fishing guide and outfitter in Montana for over ten years.
Table of Contents
Chapter One
What They Dont Want You to Know
Slick salesmanship is not specific to the automobile industry. Not unlike car dealers pushing their most luxurious models, fly fishing retailers keep trying to push you toward the $750 rod and $400 reel, even if the $125 combo kit” is what you really need. This chapter will uncover the myth that fly fishing is an expensive hobby. In fact, when compared to other hobbies and outdoor pursuits, fly fishing is relatively cheap. This chapter will explore that idea and also explain that your local fly fishing retailer, when pushed in the right direction, can be a huge asset in fishing frugal.”
Chapter Two
Fly Fishing Frugality in 500 Words or Less (Or the Code of the Frugal Fly Fisher)
This chapter explains the essential philosophy for anglers wishing to fly fish for less. Gear, instruction, and angler opportunities will be covered in extreme brevity.
Chapter Three
Gear You Want to Have and Gear You Must Have
A general discussion about the gear requirements for fly fishing. Rods, reels, fly lines, waders, and terminal tackle will be featured. If you have a limited budget, where should you first place the bulk of your bank? Of the different types of reels available to anglers, for example, why is one drag system more expensive than another? And do you really need the more expensive option?
Chapter Four
Fly Fishing Rods: A Paintbrush for Your Art or a Tool for Your Shed?
In choosing where to spend your fly-fishing dollars, the rod is your most important piece of equipment. This will probably be your most expensive purchase as well. This chapter will extensively break down the various types and materials of fly fishing rods, weights, lengths, and manufacturers. It will also offer a simple Yes-No” question-and-answer formula for determining what type of rod you should purchase.
Chapter Five
Fly Fishing Reels: Landing a Value Instead of Being Taking to the Cleaners
Reels are often the most over-rated piece of equipment an angler can purchase. Like a rod they are essential, but few anglers will argue that, in most fly fishing situations, an expensive and high-quality reel increases an anglers level of enjoyment. Most fishing guides spend more money on rods (and beer) than they do on their reels. This chapter will explain why.
Chapter Six
Fly Line: The Straight and Narrow on a Necessity
Understanding the importance of a fly line is largely over-looked by many anglersincluding experienced anglers. For most situations a quality fly line will offer more success and enjoyment than will a quality reel, and cost a lot less. This chapter will discuss the various types of fly lines, reasonable amounts to spend on a fly line, and proper care of your fly line.
Chapter Seven
Flies: A Little Knowledge Goes a Long Way
A rod, reel, and fly line may look great strung-up in your mudroom or in the back of your truck, but without the right flies an angler has a better chance to win the lottery than catch a fish. With hundreds of manufacturers and thousands of patterns, flies are an intimidating (but essential) element of fly fishing. This chapter will offer must-have lists” for the four main types of fly fishing: trout, steelhead, bass, saltwater flats. It will also discuss the options available for purchasing fliesfrom online wholesalers to specialty retailers to big box stores and private tiers.
Chapter Eight
Get Er Done: Finding Instruction for Cheap
Most major urban areas in the U.S. have several fly fishing clubs and organizations. If youre looking for free classes, chances are very good that there is either a local Trout Unlimited Chapter or Federation of Fly Fishers Chapter that can help you out. Retailers like Orvis, Cabellas, LL Bean, and others also offer instruction at either company stores or dealers. If you are fortunate to have a specialty fly fishing store in your area they may also offer classes. This chapter will discuss how to search out these free (or relatively cheap) opportunities. Also included in this chapter will be a no-bias discussion of the best instructional fly fishing books and DVDs on the market today.
Chapter Nine
Finding a Place to Fish: Opportunities are Closer Than You Think
This chapter will outline ways to discover angling opportunities that fit a reasonable budget. If you live in suburban Boston, you dont have to own a boat or fly to Montana to fly fish. There are probably two dozen ponds or rivers or a few miles of shoreline within an hours drive of your house. By using resources like the internet, local sporting goods stores, and local outdoor clubs and organizations, cheap angling opportunities are closer than you think. Public lands like USDA Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, State Parks, and more will be discussed. This chapter will include a regional breakdown of the resources available regarding opportunities to fish. Regions include: Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Southeast, Midwest, Great Plains, Southwest, Southern Rocky Mountains, Northern Rocky Mountains, Pacific Northwest, Alaska, and Hawaii.
Included in this chapter will also be locales throughout the U.S. where traveling anglers can fish on a budget. For example, shoreline wade fishing opportunities in Florida and fishing opportunities in western National Parks; and others.
Chapter Ten
Taking it to the Next Level: Travel, Boats, Guides
Fly fishing can quickly become an all encompassing past-time. For good reason anglers who become addicted are called lifers.” They are constantly searching for new ways to feed their passion. This chapter will discuss, in the context of frugality, ways to increase the enjoyment of your fly fishing experience. This chapter will briefly discuss inexpensive, Do-It-Yourself travel itineraries and locales, boats and other floating crafts; and a pro vs. con breakdown of why to hire (or not) a guide.
Chapter Eleven
Putting It to the Test: Opinions of the Pros
This chapter will be a collection of reviews and results of field testing entry-level gear.
Chapter Twelve
Real Life Frugal Fly Fishers: Five Real World” Anglers
This chapter will profile five anglers throughout the U.S. who regularly experience great fly fishing. Through their understanding of gear, opportunities, and free instruction, they have been able to enjoy the sport and still be able to put their kids through college or save for retirement. Their profiles will offer inspiration and education.
Appendices
Rod manufacturers
Reel manufacturers
Fly wholesalers and distributors
Clubs and Organizations
Guides and Outfitters offering classes or schools
Listings of government agencies and they lands they administer
Index
Cheap Tips